Abstract: The specification and drawings present a new method, apparatus and software related product for using elevation beamforming with standardized CSI feedback for evolving deployment scenarios (e.g., in LTE and LTE-A wireless systems). According to an embodiment of the invention, a network element such as eNB may send to a UE reference signals (e.g., CSI-RS) on a plurality of resources or PRBs (e.g., frequency subbands), each resource can be transmitted with one of a plurality of downtilt angles/values. In response, the network element may receive from the UE a feedback report including selected by the UE one or more of the plurality of resources/frequency subbands and related information on PMI/CQI/RI for each selected resource/frequency subband. Then, based on the feedback report, the network element can determine/identify at least one preferred downtilt angle to use for future transmissions to the UE.

Abstract: A wireless communication system is provided that spreads pilot signals, or channel state information reference signals (CSI-RSs), using a spreading code chosen from a set of mutually unbiased bases (MUBs). The advantages of such spreading with MUBs are that multiple base stations can send their pilot signals on a same time-frequency resources, making the pilot signal design very efficient and also improving channel estimation at a user equipment through orthogonal and quasi-orthogonal spreading which gives a gain above noise and interference. A short spreading code chosen from MUBs may be used for spreading pilot signals transmitted from each antenna of a base station within a time-frequency resource comprising multiple closely-spaced subcarriers in frequency and/or multiple closely-spaced symbols in time.

Abstract: A method to use RSs for per-user elevation beamforming is described. An eNB sends, to a UE, an indication of which RSs in a plurality of RSs sound in the elevation dimension and which RSs in the plurality of RSs sound in the azimuthal dimension. Then, the eNB sends, to the UE, the plurality of RSs using a plurality of antenna. The UE separates the plurality of RSs into the first portion and the second portion based at least in part on the indication and sends elevation and azimuthal feedback based on the received RSs to the eNB. The eNB determines beamforming weights for the plurality of antenna based at least in part on the elevation feedback and the azimuthal feedback. Apparatus and computer readable media are also described.

Abstract: A method includes receiving a number of indicators from a number of UEs. Each value of an indicator corresponds to entry(ies) of a codebook the corresponding UE recommends to be used for transmission. The method includes assigning the UE to a number of groups, including a first group of UEs having values of indicators corresponding to first codebook entries that when applied to an antenna array produce a pattern in elevation that steers a beam away from an underlying cell, and a second group of UEs having values of indicators corresponding to second codebook entries that are different from the first codebook entries. The method includes transmitting, in a first set of RBs having a first characteristic, to the UEs in the first group and transmitting, in a second set of RBs having a second, different characteristic, to the UEs in the second group. Apparatus and program products are disclosed.

Abstract: Various communication systems may benefit from information related to coordinated scheduling. For example, certain base stations may benefit from exchange of throughput profile information. A method can include determining a throughput profile for a group of user equipment in a cell. The method can also include reporting the throughput profile to a neighbor cell or central node.

Abstract: A method and apparatus can be configured to transmit a physical-resource-block muting request to a neighboring network entity. The method can also include transmitting at least one muting priority level for at least one physical-resource-block of the physical-resource-block muting request.

Abstract: A method of operating an array of antennas in a wireless communication system to provide user-specific azimuth and elevation beamforming is described. The method includes providing a product codebook structure consisting of both an azimuth and elevation portion. A receiver receives reference signals from a transmitter corresponding to both the azimuth and elevation portions of the array of antennas. The method also includes determining the index of the azimuth codebook portion of the product codebook from the azimuth portion of the received reference signals and determining the index of the elevation codebook portion of the product codebook from the elevation portion of the received reference signals. Apparatus and computer readable media are also described.

Abstract: Systems and techniques for crosstalk estimation. One or more user devices feed back preceding matrix indicator rank information to one or more base stations, which generated channel state information reference sources, at least one of which includes weightings based on the preceding matrix indicator rank information. One or more user devices estimates channel information based on active preceding matrix indicator information received by the base station from at least one user device. One or more user devices computes channel estimates for a desired transmission channel and one or more other potential transmission channels associated with other user devices and performs crosstalk estimation for the estimated channels. Crosstalk estimation information is fed back to a base station, which performs scheduling based at least in part on the crosstalk estimation from the one or more user devices.

Abstract: A method includes receiving downlink reference signals from a transmit antenna array having of rows of azimuth antenna elements and columns of elevation antenna elements; computing first channel state information feedback components assuming azimuth-only adaptation; computing second channel state information feedback components assuming elevation-only adaptation; computing third channel state information feedback components assuming elevation-adaptation and elevation adaptation; and feeding back the first, second and third channel state information feedback components.

Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer program products relating to coordinated scheduling with adaptive muting are provided. One method comprises transmitting, by a network element, calculated impact information for a cell of the network element when taking an action related to a cell of the network element and/or taking an action related to a cell of a second network element.

Abstract: A method includes receiving a number of indicators from a number of UEs. Each value of an indicator corresponds to entry(ies) of a codebook the corresponding UE recommends to be used for transmission. The method includes assigning the UE to a number of groups, including a first group of UEs having values of indicators corresponding to first codebook entries that when applied to an antenna array produce a pattern in elevation that steers a beam away from an underlying cell, and a second group of UEs having values of indicators corresponding to second codebook entries that are different from the first codebook entries. The method includes transmitting, in a first set of RBs having a first characteristic, to the UEs in the first group and transmitting, in a second set of RBs having a second, different characteristic, to the UEs in the second group. Apparatus and program products are disclosed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus can be configured to receive at least one channel state information reference symbol. The method can also include determining a negative timing offset estimate and a positive timing offset estimate. The negative timing offset estimate and the positive timing offset estimate are based on the at least one channel state information reference symbol. The method can also include receiving a demodulation reference symbol. The method can also include selecting either the negative timing offset estimate or the positive timing offset estimate based on the demodulation reference symbol.

Abstract: A method comprises determining in a first network element how much of a received uplink transmission is to be transmitted to a second network element, said first and second network elements both receiving said uplink transmission; and causing at least part of said received uplink transmission to be transmitted to said second network element.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing channel feedback is provided herein. During operation a covariance matrix at time t (R) is calculated as a function of a received downlink signal. Matrix Ct is also calculated and is based on a previous quantized covariance matrix (Rqt?1), the covariance matrix (R) at time t, and a forgetting factor (?) that is applied to Rqt?1. The Ct is then used to create a DERC feedback message (signal or waveform) and may be transmitted with pilots on a proper feedback channel to a base unit. The base unit receives the feedback (Ct) as a DERC waveform on a proper feedback channel. The base unit uses non-coherent or coherent detection to detect the DERC values send by the remote unit and uses the DERC values with a previous quantized covariance matrix estimate, a forgetting factor, and a weighting value to compute a covariance matrix estimate to use for beamforming.

Abstract: The specification and drawings present a new method, apparatus and software related product (e.g., a computer readable memory) for network management through a hierarchical architecture with a control functionality of a network server (e.g., C-SON) in relationship to clusters comprising eNBs (access points), and for implementing coordinated multi-point (CoMP) transmission and reception in conjunction with inter-cell interference coordination (ICIC) in wireless networks such as LTE wireless networks. In particular, embodiments of the invention describe control and coordination mechanisms among the network elements for different network architectures and use-case scenarios. Such mechanisms may be managed by a centralized self-organizing network controller such as C-SON and hierarchically via localized controllers (such as cluster coordinators) residing in macro eNBs depending on system architectural constraints and network state.

Abstract: Systems and techniques for crosstalk estimation. One or more user devices feed back preceding matrix indicator rank information to one or more base stations, which generated channel state information reference sources, at least one of which includes weightings based on the preceding matrix indicator rank information. One or more user devices estimates channel information based on active preceding matrix indicator information received by the base station from at least one user device. One or more user devices computes channel estimates for a desired transmission channel and one or more other potential transmission channels associated with other user devices and performs crosstalk estimation for the estimated channels. Crosstalk estimation information is fed back to a base station, which performs scheduling based at least in part on the crosstalk estimation from the one or more user devices.

Abstract: The present invention provides a computationally efficient technique for compression encoding of an audio signal, and further provides a technique to enhance the sound quality of the encoded audio signal. This is accomplished by including more accurate attack detection and a computationally efficient quantization technique. The improved audio coder converts the input audio signal to a digital audio signal. The audio coder then divides the digital audio signal into larger frames having a long-block frame length and partitions each of the frames into multiple short-blocks. The audio coder then computes short-block audio signal characteristics for each of the partitioned short-blocks based on changes in the input audio signal.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for feedback for closed-loop transmitting with multiple transmit antenna elements and multiple receive antenna elements. A base station includes a codebook containing sets of weightings for the multiple transmit antenna elements, with each set of weightings identified by an index and the codebook known to the base station and a served mobile station (MS). The base station pre-codes pilot signals using a precoding matrix, preferably a unitary matrix, to produce pre-coded pilot signals, which precoding matrix may or may not be known to the MS and which precoding matrix may or may not be included in the codebook. The base station then transmits the pre-coded pilot signals to the MS via the multiple transmit antenna elements and, in response, receives an index to a set of weightings in the codebook for use in a subsequent transmission of a data stream.

Abstract: A system and method for passive coordination of base stations in a closed-loop multiple-input multiple-output wireless communication system, includes a first step 400 of allocating a subframe zone to be used by a serving base station and a neighboring base station to provide synchronized communications. A next step 402 includes defining at least one beam combination for the base stations, the beam combination to be used over at least one resource block of the allocated zone. A next step 406 includes reporting feedback on measured channel conditions for the zone at a first time for the at least one beam combination and associated resource block of the zone. A next step 408 includes providing synchronized communications using the feedback by the base stations over the zone at a second time by repeating the same associated at least one beam combination and associated resource block of the zone.

Abstract: Indication(s) of a configuration of first interference measurement resources in first subframe(s) and of a configuration of second interference measurement resources in second subframe(s) are received at a first BS and from a second BS using an interface between the first and second BSs. The first BS transmits zero or low power REs that coincide with the REs belonging to the first interference measurement resources in the first subframe(s). The first BS transmits full power REs that coincide with the REs belonging to the second interference measurement resources in the second subframe(s). The first interference measurement resources in the first subframe(s) are to be used by a UE (e.g., attached to the second base station) to measure interference for zero or low power REs and the second interference measurement resources in the second subframe(s) are to be used by the UE to measure interference for full power REs.